Kathleen Mattox and Mixed Messages Art

March 13, 2020 2 Comments

I want to tell you about my artist friend and local-art partner in crime, Kathleen Mattox.

When my husband and I moved to Sanger, I was immediately drawn to her gallery, Mixed Messages Art—a cute brick building in the heart of downtown. Soon, she invited me to show my art jewelry there, and was introducing me to other local artists.

After a retiring from a career in education, Kathleen followed her dream to open this art space in Sanger, California. Mixed Messages Art is a gallery, studio, and website that reflects the variety of mixed media Kathleen uses in her art, including watercolor, paper collage with watercolor, other gel and texture mediums, and acrylic with paper collage.

More than that, the name is a hat tip to her “first career” as an elementary school educator teaching the alphabet and symbols which often appear in her work and acknowledge the power of language.

Mixed Messages carries local art and products that are small enough to fit into the petite gallery—all of them unique and different. Including my art jewelry, nine artists have their work for sale at Mixed Messages including Don Munshower’s art mobiles, two ceramic artists—Laura Fraedrich and Karen McQuown, two wire artists—Paul Parichan’s heavy-duty wire sculpture and Terrance McArthur’s colorful miniature characters, and Mary Lee Otto who makes lovely quilted baby items. Also featured are Basilwood Farm’s goat milk soap and Busy Bees Honey Farm’s local and infused honey.

As the only painter in the gallery, Kathleen’s work is bright, creative, and colorful. Featuring other other artists compliments her work and adds variety and spice to the Gallery.

One of the things I value most about Kathleen is the camaraderie we share. Getting together to brainstorm creative projects or resolve challenges when I get stuck. I think every artist needs a sounding board. When you live in a small community, collaborating with local artists makes such a difference. Kathleen is excellent at setting ambitious creative goals, so I recently sat down with her to talk about her art and goals for 2020.

What have you been creating lately?

Kathleen: I needed to create two paintings for a local show last October, but needed to complete them quickly. I decided to do them using palette knives which I have not used a lot before. In addition to the knives, I used squeeze bottles, texture, thick paint, and some glitter. I had so much fun! I’m going to do more in 2020. For Christmas, my mom gave me some nontraditional palette knives from Italy, and I just got some wood panels to try them out. I had wanted to do more with palette knives, but I didn’t know how much I would enjoy it.

What do you like about using palette knives?

Kathleen: They work great for florals. It causes you to work a lot looser and less detailed. Brushes have more control, with palette knives you’re creating the detail by pressing, pulling, or lifting.

Where are you showing your art this year?

Kathleen: I have a show coming in March in Fresno. The owner is a teacher of young children and connects with home schooling movement in her studio. I get to fill one and a half walls and plan to feature three abstract pieces. I’ll use them for inspiration pairing the paintings with new creations in fabric and calling the show “Re-Energized Through Improv.”

I’ve been sewing and quilting—so I have everything from pillows and table runners to coiled fiber and fabric bowls which all coordinate with the paintings. The great thing about fabric is that you can incorporate so much color and texture. I’m currently looking for far-out and non-traditional ways to hang the fabric pieces with the paintings.

What are your goals 2020?

Kathleen: In addition to everything else, one of my fun goals is to improve my artistic wardrobe. I like to look like an artist, so when I can add a piece or two that looks artsy I get excited. That’s one of the things your (Melanie’s) jewelry helps me do. What you’ve made for me is really me, colors and style.

My husband and I also train and show our Havanese dogs. It’s a breed that’s smart enough to make us think they’re really stupid. They’re sometimes a little bit ahead of us.

Overall, my goal is to keep learning, researching, and exploring. That kind of mindset is what keeps people young.

Bubbles, failures, and creative squirrels

April 6, 2019 2 Comments

Following the creative process

If you’re like me, you know that being creative is a mixed blessing. The creative process sometimes takes you to unexpected places both as inspiration and distraction.

You have to follow your enthusiasm and let the creative process work its way with you. In fact, sometimes the most amazing ideas come when you’re not expecting them. However, there always seems to be something new and shiny and interesting—SQUIRREL! It grabs your attention away and prevents you from finishing the original project.

The creative muse is a mythical siren, calling you away from completing the last slow steps of that important project. Or at least, that’s how things are in my studio!

I thought it would be fun (or a good distraction) to show you what I’m in the process of creating these days.

The quilt class

I knew almost immediately that I was in over my head with the three-month quilt class I’m taking with a friend. We create a new, gorgeous squares every class, but each one is made with zillions smaller pieces – think 2 7/8″ triangles.

The finished quilt will eventually have twelve 12.5″ square pieces plus lots of “low volume” background. I’m just not that diligent! But I signed up and, fortunately, the instructor is really kind and doesn’t mind (too much) if I show up without the fabric pre-cut for class.

The other day, I was at sewing at home and got on a really wonderful roll with one square. It started to look like I’d have it finished in time to bring to class. I was so excited, that is, right before my sewing machine jammed on the final seam. Then, when I couldn’t fix it, I had to go to class without my good machine. (Note to self: Pay attention to what you sign up for.)

In the process of taking this class, I did make a wonderful discovery: foundation paper piecing. Instead of the normal measuring and cutting fabric with a ruler and cutting mat, this process uses a printed sheet of paper in which you sew simple fabric rectangles on the dotted lines, repeat, and—voilà!—you end up with a gorgeous star! How on earth did someone come up with this? Gorgeous points and perfect stars just by connecting the dots.

Although it may be a SQUIRREL!, I will not let myself feel guilty for deciding that, instead of going on with 40-piece detailed quilt squares, I just want to make squares of New York Beauty (the name of the star pattern) with paper piecing. I am choosing to celebrate the discovery!

Creating new lampwork settings

When you play with wire techniques like I do, you’re like the guy who trips and drops his peanut butter in the chocolate. In following the creative process, you make happy discoveries about what works well together, quite unexpectedly.

A while ago, I created new wire fabrication links for a soap-inspired show at Mixed Messages in Sanger, CA. “What would bubbles look like made with wire?” This question led to me creating a tiaras and necklace (sold!) that featured springs with big, wrapped loops and bubbly beads spaced in between. Soapy, bubbly, and fun!

Creating bubbly-movement was an idea, but I wasn’t sure it could be used for my other art. It seemed more like a one-time fluffy idea.

However, I was creating a setting for a new class with a pink dragon lampwork bead (more on that later) as the focal . And just then, inspiration struck! I thought it would be interesting to try using the bubbles a completely different way in this new setting. That’s so fun for me—to stumble upon a creative connection and see where it leads.

Disconnected sections of looping wire in white and silver that will be joined into a necklace

One of the steps in the creative process

The new class idea is employing all sorts of techniques I have used elsewhere. Last year when I made the wire dog house, I surrounded it with “weeds” to soften and fill in the base. Those same weeds turned into “reeds” on my lampwork heron focal. Once more, an idea used one way was translated to work in another “setting” (jewelry humor—get it?).

Fiber fury

When it comes to art-making, the truth is that most people only show off what works. But I’m happy to show you the realities too. I’m currently knitting something, and I’m hating it. This is also normal in the creative process.

The pattern called for contrasting solid colors which would then be blended to fade from one yarn to another. However, the hand-dyed yarn I chose to work with has a spattery-splotchy treatment that is just not contrasting enough. Not. At. All.

And this is the dilemma: in knitting you usually don’t have a feel for how the piece will come out until you’re hours and hours in. Unless you’ve knit it before and know the pattern well (but what’s the fun in that?). Every time you cast on, it’s a gamble.

The failed knitting project in the bag.

Now I’m so far down into the project, it’s almost painful to ask myself (but I do), “Am I going to keep going? Or am I gonna rip it?” It’s projects like these that make a new SQUIRREL! project so appealing. When I go into my stash, I find half-finished knitting projects like the one in this canvas tote three years later. Perplexed, I wonder, “What is this? What was I doing?” It failed, but I couldn’t quite let it go.

The truth of creativity is that not everything you try will work. In fact, it means being willing to try a lot of things that don’t work. You have make peace with the process (and possibility of failures) to discover what will work.

There be dragons

Recently, one of my favorite lampwork artists posted a pink dragon for sale or bid online. SQUIRREL! I love Kerri Fhur. I love pink. I love dragons. The creative muse was squealing: I want to play with the pink dragon! “Bid or buy it now? That’s gonna go. Buy it now!”

Now that project is on my bench, getting the royal “bubble” treatment before it heads off to be just one of the samples for my next new class.

So that’s a glimpse of my creative process lately. Whether your medium is fiber, fabric, paint, or clay, it’s good to remember that creating is worthwhile. Even the distractions and mistakes inherent in the creative process teach you something new!

2017: A year of art jewelry (and inspiration for 2018)

January 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

Off the charts creativity

2017 was an incredible year for my art, inspired by the many shows where I was invited to participate. The amount of new pieces grew all year. In celebration, I’d love to show them all off here!

In early January, I participated in Madera Circle Gallery show called A New Journey my wire sculpture piece entitled, “Same Ocean, New Tide” otter piece. Little did I know then that this year would have many animals in it!

2017 was also the Year of the Tiara. It all started during bloom season with the pink princess party—a fun, playful event at Mixed Messages Gallery in Fresno–making sparkly tiaras on headbands. I loved it! Of all the jewelry I’ve made over the years, creating crowns and tiaras was a completely new outlet for my wire art and design skills.

This one-off princess project sparked new enthusiasm and creativity. I designed well over a dozen tiaras that honor the many roles that women play in their lives.

My intention was to bring pride, joy, and playfulness to the ordinary, making the wearer feel like the queen of her life. I even submitted a trio of tiaras to Bead and Button.

My tiaras went on tour as I participated in the Circle Gallery’s “Reflections” show in March.

In spring, I participated in Fresno Artist’s Gallery show, Bead Dreams, Chris Sorenson’s Gallery, Vintage Market at 601, and Mixed Messages Gallery’s spring-themed event.

Here’s “Golden Microcosm” in the Landscape Show at Sorensen’s.

Recognition for my art

One of the stand-out events of the year was receiving Honorable Mention for my submission to the Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts show—and the piece sold too! I really honed new small-wire skills to create this barn structure.

My other huge project was to participate in Mixed Messages’ Baker’s Dozen show, each artist featuring thirteen original works featuring animals. Because I had a great stash of animal bead options on hand, I produced a lot of new pieces on a very short deadline!

Reflections on the year

From animals to tiaras, shows to events, it’s been a year of producing a lot of new work, new skills and connections. Having shows throughout the year helped create a flow of opportunities to make things I won’t normally try. I love the challenge and variety!

I feel good about the art I’ve created and stretching my creativity in new directions. What a blessing it is to do what you love and share it with so many people.

In 2018

With the new year in full swin, I’m thinking about what I hope to create in the months ahead. While the creative muse won’t allow you to push her, I am looking forward to several shows to spark more creativity. After 2017’s experiences, I have discovered how much I enjoy that regular intensity to inspire me and create new inventory.

Whatever happens in 2018, I’ll be sure to share about it here. Feel free to follow me on Facebook where I share lots of photos from shows and works in progress.

Wishing you a happy new year!

Dozens of art glass animal pendants

November 1, 2017 Leave a Comment

Every artist needs her muses

Kathleen Mattox and Laura Fraedrich are local artists and friends of mine who met years ago in a class and continue to encourage each other’s art-making. This fall, they got an inspired idea to do a themed show called Baker’s Dozen at Kathleen’s gallery, Mixed Messages in Sanger, CA. Each each of them showed thirteen different original artworks featuring animals.

I got so excited about their idea!

Lampwork art glass animals are some of my favorite beads of all. I went through my mental list, thinking, “I bet I have…” As luck would have it, I did! Although the goal of thirteen pieces seemed like a stretch, I thought it would be fun to try to achieve it. I was even more excited when Kathleen agreed to let me participate and show off these art glass animal pendants.

Creativity under a deadline

A lot of artists work well under a deadline, and it’s definitely the case for me. I got together twelve pendants and necklaces–and one sculpture–at the last minute. Yes, I literally ran in the last few the morning the show started. It was a great challenge. My menagerie of glass animal pendants includes more-or-less exotic creatures including a unicorn, dragon, hippopotamus, otter, mouse, two owls, chicken, four cats, and a dog.

Laura’s paintings and Kathleen’s collage paintings are beautiful and creative. They did an incredible job with the show, two events, and included animal-themed cards, bookmarks, tote bags, and other accessories for sale. Kathleen also participated in Inktober and drew a different dog breed every day. It is so fun to be connected with such prolific, talented, and collaborative artists.

The bakers’ dozen of art glass animal pendants I created

Here’s a glimpse of the show and all the glass animal pendants and necklaces (plus a sculpture) that they inspired me to create!

My pendants and necklaces in the center island of the gallery.

One of the four baker’s dozen kitties.

The other three hilarious cats.

The otter sculpture.

The whippet pendant… or is it a greyhound?

Who are you calling a chicken?

I’m pretty sure this is the cutest baby hippo ever.

Of course, I had to add a tiara, but Kathleen’s dog painting is incredible!

And finally, the glass unicorn!

Many of these pendants will be available for purchase when the show ends on October 31. Please feel free to let me know if one grabs your fancy. It was a great project, and I’m glad to have art friends who inspire and challenge me!

5 benefits of collaborating with other fine artists

July 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

I’ve been collaborating with two local fine artists, Kathleen Mattox and Paul Parichan, for over a year and co-creating art together in special seasonal collections.

It was specially exciting to take the collaboration further as a guest blogger on Kathleen’s Mixed Messages Gallery website this month! I’ve written about how this collaboration began, how we work together, and five benefits of getting out of one’s artistic comfort zone.

Come see fun photos of what three unique and creative people can do together!

Mixed Messages guest blog post

A flowing year for my art

December 24, 2016 Leave a Comment

Celebrating a year

In some respects, this month is the most productive of the year as I prepared for holiday shows and created new art for them. In other ways, it’s a time when I reflect on the year’s accomplishments.

2016 was probably my most art-filled year in recent memory—a fact I’d love to celebrate with you. I haven’t had a year with this much artwork in a long time.

Here are my four big successes from 2016….

One: A more satisfying process for producing art

This year has been about flow and new energy. Instead of being surprised by deadlines, I planned ahead and got the dates down on my calendar. This allowed me to focus on meeting one deadline and then look ahead to what I wanted to participate in next.

What was really different is how I planned in enough time for the creative unfolding process. You can’t execute big art pieces in a day, but it sometimes still surprises me how long things take. Every project has at least one “OMG this is never going to come together” moment. With better planning, I could work on it, step away, and keep coming back until it starts to come together.

Spaciousness and time make better art and a happier, saner artist.

Two: More art pieces than in recent years

This spring, something just clicked for me when I started working on the piece below, a free-form sterling wire necklace with a lampwork blossom bead.

Then I created Breastplate for Ninsun using this same free-form style. I loved it so much, I even decided to submit it to Bead and Button.

BreastPlate for Ninson wire art necklace (c) Melanie Schow

It’s common for artists to focus on a particular color or medium for a while, creating a series of pieces that use a similar style. Once I got rolling, this new, bigger style kept flowing through the subsequent pieces of jewelry and wire embroidery.

All of the designs revolved around the theme of precipitation and water. Talk about flow!

Organized Precipitation Little Sister necklace

Organized Precipitation’s Little Sister necklace

Three: Recognition for my art

I entered Organized Precipitation (below) into Madera County Art Council’s Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts 2016 23rd Annual competition and exhibition. It won second place for the category “Water… Agriculture’s Lifeblood.” I received a Certificate of Recognition for the award from California Legislature assembly and senate with my name and title of piece and stamped with a silver emblem.

The Alliance of California Artists Open Show’s theme was Falling into Winter. I submitted The Sky is Falling, a wire embroidery piece depicting rain turning to snow. For the rain, I used glass beads, crystals, bugle beads, and wire. The snow is wire with sparkly Lucite beads in stars and shapes. I won Honorable Mention in the category of Three-Dimensional Drawing and Non-Traditional Artwork.

Four: New venues for my art

The Art Shop at Vintage Market at 601: This year, Paul Parichan created an art shop dedicated to local artists. All of the participating artists make diverse and high-quality art in a variety of media—including mixed media, ceramics, fabric pillows, wire work, paintings jewelry. I’m really honored that he invited me into this prestigious group and featured three of my artworks (Monarch Duet, Breastplate for Ninsun, the “baby sister” of Organized Precipitation).

New online shop: People have always asked if they could purchase my work online, and this year, it’s finally possible! Although, it’s on vacation mode during the holidays, my online shop will be active again in January. Here’s the link to see what’s new in my online store.

If you’re in or visiting the San Joaquin Valley, I’m also showing my work at:

Mixed Messages in Sanger, CA
The Art Shop at Vintage Market at 601 in Fresno, CA
Circle Gallery in Madera, CA

My hope is to ride the energy and success of this year into the new one. In the meantime, I’m wishing you a fruitful and flowing new year!

Clouds in my Coffee (c)2016 Melanie Schow

Messing about with sterling wire art jewelry

February 26, 2016 2 Comments

After a rather long dry spell involving baby cows and endless paperwork (I know, don’t ask), I’m starting to make wire art jewelry again.

A new breakthrough was inspired six weeks ago while I was poking around on Pinterest. Looking at wire art jewelry, this stunning piece by Ruth Jensen of SparkFlight stopped me in my tracks. The free-form wire she uses at the center of a necklace is inspiring! I want to play with that!

In fact, I printed it out and have been dragging around that picture—along with my wire and bead trays—ever since.

Of course, there’s a fine line to walk as an artist because you don’t want to copy or reproduce someone else’s work. At the same time, magic happens when you’re putting your own spin or taste into something that inspires you—and giving credit to your inspiration.

Budding ideas

Seeing Ruth’s work brought to mind a floral lampwork bead I’ve been wanting to use for the upcoming Blossom Trail event in Sanger, CA. One afternoon, I finally sat down to start. Our springtime fruit tree festival inspires me, and the floral focal bead looks like the stone fruit blossoms we are seeing all around us.

In the early “spaghetti phase,” the long ends stick out everywhere, and you’re not really sure it will come together. As I worked, I really started to like it.

Then it sat for a while. Sometimes I have to stop or step away. Instead of forcing the completion or the design, it’s important to take time with it and visualize what it can become. It’s better to think things through since wire isn’t a super-forgiving medium. With wire, once you bend it, you’re committed.

Bursting into bloom

When I came back to the piece, I did the rest of the setting all at once. By luck, I found accent lampwork beads that compliment the focal bead. Instead of manufactured chain, I knew it needed sterling hand-forged links that refer back to the piece itself.

Here’s the finished piece:

I feel so excited to play again! Working the wire this way really feels like a something new.

Side note: I bought on ebay the focal bead and accents and cannot find the lampwork artist’s name. If you happen to know, please mention it in the comments. I’d like to give credit.

Come see!

If you’re interested in seeing or purchasing my work, this piece will be featured at Mixed Messages Art leading up to the Blossom Trail event on March 5.